Page 94 of Sinful Persuasion of a Lady in the Making
The door creaked open and to Sebastian, it sounded as loud as thunder. He winced. Diana sat down next to him.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, her voice surprisingly gentle and kind.
He screwed his eyes shut, not entirely sure he was hearing her correctly.
Why is she not reprimanding me?
“Sebastian, talk to me.”
He slowly turned his head, allowing his arms to drop to his lap, and he offered her a weak smile.
“Well, my head hurts,” he said dryly.
“I’m not surprised. You were rather inebriated last night. Perhaps some tea will help?”
She didn’t wait for a reply, instead rang the bell and ordered a pot of tea. Her kindness made Sebastian want to reach out and hold her. This was the real Diana, the true Diana he knew and loved.
“I behaved badly last night,” he said matter of factly.
“Yes, you did. Although let’s be honest, it’s not the first time you have made a fool of yourself in a room full of people.”
Sebastian groaned again, a hand raising up to pull at his already messy hair. “Was it really that bad?”
“It was quite bad,” she said softly, nodding her head. “But it’s far from the worst you have done, so there is that.”
Sebastian snorted with laughter, then turned to look at her. “You say the sweetest things. You always know how to make me feel better.”
“I try my best,” she said with a shrug and a grin. “Seriously, though, Sebastian. What you did last night was inappropriate certainly, but anyone could see the emotional pressure you were under.”
“She was with another,” he murmured, not meeting his sister’s gaze.
“I know. It must have been painful to witness. I have come to recognize how strongly you feel for her.”
Sebastian narrowed his eyes at her, confused by her words.
“Why are you being so kind about this? I would normally expect at least one argument after something like this and yet, you are being—”
“I can see how much you’re suffering, and believe it or not, I don’t want that. Idowant to see you happy.”
“So what now? I have lost the one thing I thought could make me truly happy.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Diana said. “I saw the way she looked at you last night, how concerned she was. Perhaps I was wrong, I don’t know.”
“But she had quite clearly found another suitor.”
“No,” Diana said, shaking her head. “She was quite clearly dancing with someone. That does not mean—”
“My Lord,” the butler said, interrupting their conversation. “There is a Miss Jones here to see you.”
Sebastian’s breath stopped, but his heart raced. He looked briefly down at himself, disheveled and ungroomed and no doubt stinking of stale alcohol.
“Talk to her,” Diana urged, seeing his concern. Sebastian nodded silently.
“Show her in,” he said.
When Jenny entered, it was almost fearfully. He could see the uncertainty in her expression, the wariness in her movements, and he hated that their relationship had come to this. Everything that had once been so comfortable and easy was now in disarray.
“Good morning,” Jenny said nervously. “I hope you don’t mind my calling in like this, but after last night—”
